Shrubs for seaside areas

Here's a list of some shrubs which grow well in coastal and seaside areas - the list is not exhaustive and any suggestions of further suitable shrubs will be welcome.

*: E = evergreen

Figures in brackets indicate the approximate height in feet usually attained after 10 years under average conditions.


ARBUTUS    
UNEDO (10)  E  Waxy, white flowers then orange fruit in November
     
ARUNDINARIA   (Bamboo)
gigantea (9) E  
debilis (10) E yellow, or green, or purple
variegata (2) E Dwarf Bamboo with varigated white and green leaves
     
CHOISYA    
TERNATA (8)  E  Fragrant, white flowers from May-Jun.
     
Colutea - Poisonous.    
orientalis (6)   Copper flowers with yellow markings in summer.
arborescens (10)   Yellow, pea-like flowers in summer.
media (10)   Copper and yellow flowers in summer.
     
CORDYLINE    
AUSTRALIS (6)  E  Sword-like leaves, creamy-white flowers
- ATROPURPUREA (5)  E  Rich bronze-purple foliage
- TORBAY DAZZLER (5)  E  Cream & green variegated leaves
   
COTONEASTER    
CONGESTUS NANA (6")  E  Very slow growing, minute green leaves
CONSPICUUS DECORUS (3)  E  Orange-red berries in autumn, prostrate growth
CORNUBIA (10)  E  Semi-evergreen, red berries in autumn,
DAMMERI CORAL BEAUTY (1)  E  Coral-red berries in autumn, spreading habit
EXBURYENSIS (7)  E  Apricot-yellow fruit in autumn
FRANCHETII (8)   Silver-grey foliage, arching branches, red berries
HORIZONTALIS (4)   Red berries & foliage in autumn. Grows well against a wall with fan-like branches
- VARIEGATUS (4)   Variegated foliage, turning red in autumn, red berries
LACTEUS (7)  E  Vigorous grower, bunches of orange-red berries in late winter.
MICROPHYLLUS (3)  E  Prostrate growth, scarlet berries in autumn
SALICIFOLIUS FLOCUSSUS (6)  E  Scarlet berries, shiny green leaf
   
CYTISUS   (BROOM)
BATTANDIERI   Large Pineapple scented yellow flowers June-July
BURKWOODII (6)   Crimson flowers, wings edged gold
KILLINEY RED (5)   Rich red flowers with darker wings from may-Jun
LENA (4)   Ruby red & yellow flowers. Good in poor soils
PRAECOX ALBUS (6)   Long lasting white flowers produced during may
- ALL GOLD (4)   Arching sprays of yellow flowers during may
PURPUREUS (2'6")   Prostrate growth, lilac-purple flowers in may
WINDLESHAM RUBY (5)   Deep red flowers
     
ELAEAGNUS    
EBBINGEI (8)  E  A very hardy evergreen, fragrant flowers in autumn
- LIMELIGHT (6)  E  Silver-grey & gold variegated foliage
PUNGENS MACULATA (6)  E  Green leaves splashed with yellow
     
ESCALLONIA    
APPLE BLOSSOM (5)  E  Pink & white flowers from Jun-Sept C.F.
BALL (8)  E  Upright growth, scarlet flowers in summer
DONARD SEEDLING (6)  E  Pale pink flowers, loose arching habit
DONARD RADIANCE (6)  E  Large soft rose red flowers
MACRANTHA (9)  E  Rose crimson flowers, glossy foliage
PRIDE OF DONARD (5)  E  Brilliant rose-pink flowers throughout summer
RED DREAM  E  Compact form with red flowers
   
EUONYMUS   (SPINDLE TREE) Harmful if eaten
ALATUS (5)   Corky wings along branches, brilliant autumn colour
EUROPAEUS RED CASCADE (7)   Good autumn colour, rosy-red fruit.
FORT' BLONDY  E  Dark green foliage with a golden central splash
- EMERALD'N'GOLD (2)  E  Yellow & green variegated foliage.
- EMERALD GAIETY (2)  E  Green & silver variegated foliage.
- HARLEQUIN (2)  E  White and green variegated foliage
- MICRO' VARIEGATUS (2)  E  Green & white variegated foliage.
GENERAL GAULTHIER (3)  E  Large, silver variegated foliage
JAPONICUS OVATUS AUREUS (6)  E  Green foliage with yellow border
RADICANS SILVER QUEEN (3)  E  Large silver variegated foliage.
     
Fuchsia    
magellanica (10)   Red and purple flowers (other colours in varieties), June to October.
Riccartonii (6)   Red and purple flowers from June to October.
   
GARRYA    
ELLIPTICA (8)  E  Grey-green catkins from Jan-Mar
     
GENISTA    
HISPANICA (2)   Yellow flowers from May-Jun.
LYDIA (2)   Arching sprays of yellow flowers from May-Jun.
   
HEBE   (SHRUBBY VERONICA)
ALBICANS (2)  E  White flowers Jun-Jul. Compact mound, glaucous foliage.
- RED EDGE (2)  E  Pinkish-red edges to upper leaves in winter, mauve flowers in June
AUTUMN GLORY (3)  E  Deep violet flowers from Jul-Oct
BABY MARIE (3)  E  Small pale pink flowers
CARL TESCHNER (1)  E  Prostrate growth, violet flowers Jun-Jul
GREEN GLOBE (1)  E  Moss green foliage, dome-shaped habit
GREAT ORME (3)  E  Flowers pink in bud opening white
JAMES STIRLING (1)  E  Whipcord branches, green in summer, bronze in winter
MARGRET (2)  E  Sky-blue flowers from may, bright green leaves, compact habit
ORATIO BEAUTY  E  Flowers are pink in bud opening white.
PINGUIFOLIA PAGEI (1)  E  Blue-grey foliage, white flowers from may-Jun
PINK ELEPHANT  E  Variegated foliage
PURPLE PIXIE (2)  E  Abundant purple flowers from Jun - autumn
RAKAIENSIS [SUBALPINA] (2)  E  White flowers from May-Jun compact growth
ROSIE (2)  E  Free flowering pink blooms June until late autumn
SILVER DOLLAR  E  Variegated foliage.
SUTHERLANDII (1)  E  Low growing, blue foliage & white flowers
VERNICOSA  E  Shiny green foliage, small white flowers in July
   
Helianthemum   (Rock Rose)
     
Hippophae   (Sea Buckthorn)
rhamnoides (20)   Insignificant, yellow flowers in April. Bright orange fruit in autumn.
     
HYDRANGEA    
MACROPHYLLA (5)   Blue, red, pink or white flowers in variety
     
ILEX   (Holly)
ALTRACLAR' GOLD KING (6)  E  Spineless foliage berries if fertilised. Female
ARGENTEA MARGINATA (6)  E  White margined leaves, berries well. Female
BACCIFLAVA (8+)  E  Yellow berried form of common holly. Female
- FERROX VARIEGATA (6)  E  Variegated small leaves, Male
- GOLD FLASH (6)  E  Green foliage with central gold variegation, red berries in autumn self-fertile.
-J.C. VAN TOL (6)  E  Self-fertile, regular crops of red berries.
- SILVER QUEEN (6)  E  Creamy-white margins to grey-green foliage. Male
CRENATA GOLDEN GEM (3)  E  Small golden-yellow, spineless foliage. Compact habit
MESERVAE BLUE PRINCE (5)  E  Deep bluish-green leaves, dwarf habit, Male
- BLUE PRINCESS (8+)  E  Deep purple stems, blue-green leaf. Female.

 

   
LAVENDULA   (LAVENDER)
HIDCOTE (1'6")   Compact habit, purple flowers from July
MUNSTEAD (2'6")   Compact growth, lavender blue flowers in July
STOECHAS PEDUCULATA (2)   Lilac-blue flowers with wispy bracts,
VERA (DUTCH)   Broad grey leaves, blue flowers in July
   
OLEARIA   (DAISY BUSH)
X HAASTII (5)  E  White flowers Jul-Aug. Silver foliage
     
Phlomis   (Jerusalem Sage)
fruticosa (5) E Whorls of rich yellow flowers in June and July.
     
PITTOSPORUM    
SILVER QUEEN  E  Leaves are pale green, silver margin.
GARNETII  E  Yellow golden leaves all the year round.
     
PYRACANTHA    
ORANGE GLOW (8)  E  Long lasting orange berries
RED COLUMN (8)  E  Bright red berries in autumn, upright habit
SAPHYR ORANGE  E  Orange berries. Good disease resistance
SAPHYR RED  E  Red berries. Good disease resistance
SAPHYR YELLOW  E  Yellow berries. Good disease resistance
TETON (8)  E  Small leaves, small orange berries, bushy growth
   
ROSMARINUS   (ROSEMARY)
MISS JESSOPS UPRIGHT (4)  E  Aromatic foliage, blue flowers in may
PROSTRATA (2)  E  Flat trailing stems, blue flowers
ROSEUS (2-3)  E  Aromatic foliage, pink flowers in June
   
SANTOLINA    
CHAMAECYPARIS (2)  E  Silver, woolly foliage, yellow button flowers.
     
SENECIO    
GREYII (SUNSHINE) (4)  E  Yellow daisy-like flowers June- July, silver foliage.
     
Spartium - harmful if eaten   (Spannish Broom)
junceum (10)   bright yellow flowers, July to September
   
SPIRAEA    
X ARGUTA (6)   A covering of white flowers from April-May
GOLDFLAME (3)   Golden foliage & crimson flowers in summer
GOLDMOUND (2)   Compact growth, golden foliage, pink flowers
FIRELIGHT (3)   New growth is red in spring turning to gold, crimson flowers
JAP LITTLE PRINCESS (1)   Pink flowers during the summer months
- SHIROBANA (2)   Red & white flowers on the same plant June - July
NIPPONICA SNOWMOUND (4)   Arching sprays of white flowers may-Jun
   
TAMARIX    
PENTANDRA (8)   Scented pink flowers, feathery foliage
TETANDRA (8)   Loose spreading foliage, light pink flowers in may.
   
Ulex   (Gorse, Furze)
europeaus (3)   Prickly. Yellow flowers from spring to winter.
     
VIBURNUM    
X BODNANTENSE DAWN (8)   Scented pink flowers from Oct-Mar.
X BURKWOODII (7)  E  Fragrant pinkish-white flowers in early spring.
X CARLECEPHALUM (5)   Good autumn colour, white flowers in May.
CARLESII   Large globular sweetly scented white flowers in late spring
DAVIDII (3)  E  Good ground cover, pinkish-white flowers in June.
X FARRERI (8)   Scented white flowers from Nov-Mar.
PLICATUM MARESII (5)   Compact shrub, white flowers, good autumn colour.
RHYTIDOPHYLLUM (8)  E  Creamy flowers in Jun, red berries, corrugated foliage.
TINUS (8)  E  Pinkish-white scented flowers from Nov-April.
- EVE PRICE  E  Deep pink buds opening white from Nov-April.
   
YUCCA    
FILAMENTOSA (6)  E  Sword-like foliage, cream flower spikes from Jul-Aug
VARIEGATA (4)  E  Variegated foliage, creamy flower spikes in summer
     
 
 
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